How to remove labels etc,

[joeyz6]

At a restaurant where I used to work, we would fill the inside of the bottle with very hot water. Often, this would melt some or all of the glue, allowing us to peel the label off with a pretty good success rate. If this isn't working, you can also try soaking the entire bottle in a hot-water bath (and having it filled with hot water).

As for your second question, if you want the label, it's quite acceptable to ask politely to have it removed. If your waiter says no, then you're not receiving acceptable service. However, you should be prepared for two possibilities: (1) that the waiter won't have time at that particular moment, and you have to wait a little while, and (2) that the waiter could be unsuccessful in his/her attempt, and tear the label.